Ben Mika and Shalom. His mother writes to him: “In 1975, a ray of light struck our lives and was born. The winter season, drops trickled down the window pane, my heart was full of happiness – my oldest son. As a fresh mother I was assisted by literature, I followed your development, which was ‘by the book’, step by step. “We moved to Yamit, in 1976, looking for a space, sea and sand for your childhood, and the transition really affected you deeply: you fell in love with the expanses, the desert and the sea: ‘When are you going to swim?’ “The evacuation of Yamit, 1982, the family – which now includes Anar – moves to Moshav Dekel, everything is different, so different from the water, you go up to first grade, a new environment, new friends, multiple fears As for the acclimatization, but the fears were false, we acclimated nicely. You started to get an education at the Besor School in Eshkol. In school, a new world has been revealed to you. You have become a child full of activities. He goes out early in the morning to the school and from there goes on to Kibbutz Gvulot to the swimming pool – to the swimming team, to the judo class – where you won competitions all over the country and later became coach. You did not skip the Conservatory of Music, where you played the piano and participated in many concerts. Over time, I added to the saxophone repertoire, a more portable instrument. The space is short to contain all the fields and all the victories and achievements that have been shortened. Always first. “The time has passed, the seasons have changed, and you are already in high school … Your little brother, Eli’i, was born, and you are no longer small … 15 years old, helping and supporting and serving the little boy as a father and educator who can only be imitated. “I do not know where I should ‘put in’ your special character. Chronologically, I have to put it in now. This high school period is ‘puberty’ for any ‘stupid’ son, but your personality has actually begun to be shaped a long time ago. “As a child, he always helps us with agriculture in the moshav, you never ask for a reward, and you are not prepared to accept it even when others insist on rewarding you, helping everyone in their studies, taking on projects to pass on students who have difficulty in their matriculation exams. I was just like everyone else when I got rid of your father at the time, I leaned on your broad shoulders and received your encouragement and endless support. “At that time You also developed political awareness and another approach: Animals should not be disturbed, should not be violated The tranquility, and of course – you become a vegetarian and even vegan later on all the implications of it. You always wanted not to bother anyone: ‘Live and let live.’ High values of love of the Land of Israel, a desire to serve and contribute to the army, to be a great leader. You started to sniff at units in the army, you started with the Gadna, the naval commando, but there you kill, apparently this is not the place for you … “The end of high school. You have excellent grades and you decide to go on to university. “An 18-year-old who dreams of physics and admires Einstein, in the framework of a combat reserve, you move to Ben-Gurion University in Be’er Sheva, and in the first year you received a scholarship for outstanding academic excellence. You finished your degree three years later: “In October 1993 you were drafted into the army, combat engineering for the time being, but you soon realize where you are and where your heart yearns. The sky’s the limit?! At the flight school they taught you that the sky was not the limit. apprenticeshipSecond, you went through the basic preparation and enjoyed every moment in the air when flying. You accepted the fact that you would not be able to fly on fighter planes with mixed feelings. The release of anger and frustration on the bicycle ride alone from the palm to Eilat almost non-stop. And again she went back to the gray and this time to the captains. Vigorously mash that you want to continue despite the physical bruises. I was part of the almost impossible return of the IAF. We looked again for an area where there was no blood on our hands and you could only contribute. This time you decided on LA, the possibility of flying fascinated you, you already had an air-force pin and you immediately applied for the final consolation, at the end of which you received the rank of lieutenant, where you already knew friends who accompanied you all the way to the end. ” Lt. Col. Eyal, the unit commander, wrote to his family: “During his service in the unit, his qualities were exposed: a personal example, a professional, an initiator, a creator and a friend. Everywhere we turn we will find the touch of his hands, which reached all areas of activity in the unit, operational activity, training, training, evening and unit trips. His friends in the unit write to him: “Your qualities have been exposed to our eyes and hearts: a personal example not only in mouth but mainly in action. A sweeping personal example that makes your colleagues and officials do what is required with pleasure, love and joy. A professional who taught us quickly and in a quality learning and familiarity with the subject, level and quality of performance which is second to none. An initiating officer, a creator, who took the unit forward, touched and was involved in all areas of endeavor. A friend, a bad supporter and interested in his surroundings. You have always found time to help and extend a hand to anyone and every activity. “Ira, wherever we are, we will find your hands, the exercises, the garden, the grass, the vegetable corner with the carrot and the cabbage, the paintings on the turtleneck, the songs and the stories, the evenings of the unit and the walks. And you have convinced us in a dignified manner, you have forced us to deal with the questions and improve, and with your help we have come far. “Throughout your service you have achieved achievements both inside and outside the unit. You have recently received a distinction from the Air Force, which you have received for what you have symbolized in our eyes and in the eyes of others.You have recently started a new position, how much you wanted the job and even postponed medical studies a year. To help and assist in your integration with the new place. “You spent a year and nine months in the unit, during which your commanders recommended that you be awarded an ‘Excellent Officer’ certificate in the IAF. At the same time, interviews began for a new position for you – commander of the idyll unit in the Hatzerim squadron. Despite your young age, you got the job and moved to a new base, a new squadron, a new company. “You have not been able to spend a lot of time in the job, a month or a little, maybe your burden has been on you and you have decided to put an end to everything on the 19th of Sivan 5760 (June 19, 2000).” Ira was laid to rest at the military cemetery in Be’er Sheva. He was twenty-five years old when he fell. Survived by his parents and two brothers. “The true answer to take with you, but as in every decision you made, I stood behind you, even in the latter, despite the infinite space and pain,” writes his mother. A song from a book he remembered – a collection of poems written by Ira: “They cut off my wings / the wings I did not have / I already thought, ‘Here I am flying’ / But I would fall – “But she said to me, ‘I would marry you if I were 24’ and left me / did not forget to say – A nice guy / I already thought, ‘Here I am flying’ / but I would fall – going and falling. “Another song written by Ira:” I am fromI will be happy to be / be happy with you / be with you by the way. “Things written by a friend of Ira : “I remember you as you are, / smiling, all the time / I remember you with sparkling eyes, / perpetual happiness, not tears / / I remember you loyal, optimistic, / as if you did not have a side that is not 100% positive.” I remember you as you are, / busy, working and investing, / even when the stars are already tired of sparkling / I remember you so attentive to everything, / even to the less important things I said. Bromo I remember you as a heavenly figure, / God’s work of art, / I remember you as you are / bald, bright blue eyes / small nose, lips, shoulders .// And a smile – Which was so yours. / And a bit of shame, immediately embarrassed, Converts into his heart as the hand comes closer to pat you on the shoulder./ I remember you almost inhuman, / Each of us has a defect, / I searched for yours / Was /// I remember you as you are, / and that’s all that’s left of you. “
